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What's The 'Gen Z Boss And A Mini' Video? The Cringe Instagram Reel From @tbhskincare_ Explained
There's a video floating around Twitter / X that's originally from the Instagram page @tbhskincare_. It shows several Gen Z women singing in a circle, starting with the bar, "Gen Z boss in a mini."
The enthusiastic video from the skincare company coworkers has made a lot of people cringe because, maybe they're too enthusiastic? The jury is still out as the backlash spreads out of the deranged "manosphere" and into the more mainstream and less poisoned web.
So, where did this video come from? What's the TikTok trend that these women are doing and why are they receiving so much hate? Let's explain.
What's The Original 'Gen Z Boss And A Mini' Video?
The original video was posted by the company TBH Skincare on both its Instagram and TikTok accounts. The Instagram Reel has arguably gained more attention though, as it was reposted from their account @tbhskincare_ to X this week (where it was ridiculed).
In the video, female employees are seen in a circle each singing a verse about their outfit or personality. The first woman sings, "Gen Z boss and a mini," thereby becoming the defining lyric. Inherently, the "Gen Z boss" is trying to summon girlboss energy.
What's The 'Gen Z Boss And A Mini' TikTok Trend?
The "Gen Z boss and a mini" girls are following a TikTok trend called Boots and a Slick Back Bun that's super viral right now. The original video was posted by TikToker @maisieisobel_ at the end of last month.
@maisieisobel_ Boots and a slick back bun @Ellie Lord @Amelia Gregorian #bootsandaslickbackbun #girlhood #cowboybootsandablowie #sambasandalittleredbag ♬ Boots and a slick back bun – maisieisobel_
The original lyrics are, "Boots and a slick back bun," "Cowboy boots and a blowie" and "Sambas and a little red bag." Like the "Gen Z boss" video, each girl sings a verse about their outfit and look.
The simple trend has proved easy to replicate, earning celebrity iterations too, like one from comedy actress Amy Poehler called "Hoops and a black short dress." Some of her fellow SNL and Parks and Rec friends are in it, including Rachel Dratch, Rashida Jones and Seth Meyers (who's lurking in the background).
@amypoehler summer in the city
Why Is 'Gen Z Boss And A Mini' Cringe?
The video in question has inspired mass discourse over on Twitter / X. Users are discussing the video's cringe levels.
Many of these reactions have come from the so-called "manosphere" — a subset of male internet users obsessed with trad values and red-pilled Andrew Tate clips. It's fairly obvious it's them; the initial repost was from a looksmaxxer profile pic, asking "Is this the longhouse?"
Is this the longhouse? pic.twitter.com/ZK6FkoF1y3
— Cabana Boy 🌴 (@Alkibiades_) July 10, 2024
In turn, many of the initial reactions were sexist and misogynistic. (People truly hate to see a girlboss winning.) However, as the video spread outside of the manosphere, the misogynism was omitted while the cringe levels remained.
While piercing through the reactions, one thing becomes obvious: the "Gen Z boss and a mini" video acts as a symbol for how Zoomers can exhibit "Millennial cringe" too. Then, this feeling combines with the negative stigma of corporate, brand accounts in general which try too hard to be hip.
All of this compounds into that yucky feeling that "Gen Z boss and a mini" emits.
Zoomer women on their way to pretend Millennials are more cringe than them (they are exactly the same) https://t.co/fX7misy8XV
— ⚡☈ᴇᴠᴇɴᴀɴᴛ💀 (@revenant_MMXX) July 11, 2024
For the full history of Gen Z Boss And A Mini, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.
